The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-05
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.

Our Useless Naturai-Gas Ordinance.
To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal:
1t is now more than month since the gas
dinance was passed. We have three or more local
gas companies in the city. Neither of these has
accepted the provisions of the gas ordinance; and
the Evening News stated not long ago that the
Indianapolis Gas Company would not accept the
provisions of the ordinance until they had fifty
wels-or the equivalent of fifty wells-such as
the the Harris farm. / understand that
the Indianapolis Gas Company has three wells
which produce four five million feet of gas
Der day. If the citizens of Indianapolis are to
wait until they get forty-seven more, is it not
pertinent inquiry. How many wells is that
company now putting down. and how long has
it taken them to find the three wells which they
now havel If 1t takes them as long to find forty
seven more wells relatively as it took them TO
find the three they now have, how long will it be
before Indianapolis obtains natural gas from this
companyl It is within the knowledge of all the
citizens of Indianapolis that the Indianapolis
Natural-gas Company has been two months and
more in obtaining the three wells which they
now have. At this rate may reasonably ex-
pect to have gas from that company in sufficient
piping quantities in a little over two years from
now!
The interview published in the Journal OF
Aug. throws some light the intention of
the controllers of the Indianapolis Natural-gas
Company about piping gas to this city. In that
interview it is stated that Mr.. Branham, Mr..
Root and A. NJ. Fletcher the executive COM
mitree of the Indianapolis Natural-gas Company
and have the absolute management of the COM
pany's operations" These gentlemen all
substantial citizens, and not a word can be said
against them personally. It is only natural
that they should protect their own interests.
Mr. Branham and Mr.. Root are two OF the lar
gest coal dealers in the city. Mr.. Fletcher con-
trolls the entire coke market in this city. Can
it be supposed that either of these gentlemen is
in a great hurry to destroy their respective bust
nesses by speedily piping gas to the city. which.
if done, will take the place largely of the prod
ucts which they sell in the market9 Are they
willing. for the good of the public to destroy
their own business that the people may profit
by itl This can hardly be xpected.
Taking the fact into consideration that the In
dianapolis Natural-gas Company has not ac
cepted the present ordinance, and that it is
given out through the newspapers it will not I'M
til fifty wells are found; and that they have
only three wells under contract now; and that
these gentlemen largely control the fuel market
of the city; and that they are in absolute
troll of the management of the affairs of the In
dianapos company, it looks very much to a
plain, ordinary citizen that the prospects for OBJ
ia lining gas for this city through them are ex-
tremely remote. If they would accept the pro-
visions of the present ordinance and push their
explorations with more vigor. it would be soIne
evidence of their intention to give gas soon.
In the meantime the only sufferers the
D eople. 1t looks TO me as If the home "monop-
ollsts" are crying monopoly" against the Stand
ard Oil Company for the purpose OF benefitng
''home monopoly" at the expense of the people.
1t don't make much difference to me whether
pay my money TO the one or the other. What
want is an opportunity to buy gas as fuel. l
also want some reasonable restrictions against
exorbitant rates; but do not want prohibtory
rates fixed in an ordinance The present ordi-
nance seems to have that effect, for neither our
home monopolies nor foreign monopolies will
accept its provisions It seems to that this
fact being apparent the Common Council
ought without delay to amend tho ordinance in
such a way that We may get gas this winter.
The price is evidently not suitable now and good
business sense requires that they shall try a
higher rate.
Other cities not as favorably situated as
Indianapolis taking that which rightfully
belongs to us. The little town of Findiay. Ohio.
has jumped IN about one year from village of
1000 inhabitants to a city of %, 900. Muncie,
Kokono and Anderson daily receiving
accessions to their populations and establishing
manufactures which Indianapolis otherwise
would get. Every day that unnecessary delay |
la made In not passing an ordinance which will |
insure a supply of gas is detriment to our city
Why should sumber in the midst of these |
opportunities until our interests have materially
suffered! Is there not enough life left in the |
citizens of our city to demand in no uncertain |
tones that the Common Council shall cease |
their prohibitory action and do something in the |
interests of the people and not merely for the |
benefit of the home companies who seem |
determined to indefinitely postpone the piping |
of gas to the citv2
In time we will certainly have moro than one |
natural-gas company in the city If it is one
fourth as profitable as it is sale to be there will
in time be plenty of capital invested in it What
possible harm, L ask, can come to the city by
having the ordinance amended at once that
some company may begin work immediately2
Let US get some of the benefits of a large ex-
pepditure of money to help out the working men
Of city this year. A CITIZEN.
INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. 4.